The man shot dead in Cloverdale was identified Saturday as Santos Alvarez, and authorities said they found pounds of marijuana in the rural building where he was killed.
The man suspected of killing Alvarez, 26, of Cloverdale, is thought to be fleeing the country, said Sonoma County Sheriff?s Sgt. Tim Duke.
The suspect in the Friday shooting is Augustin Alvarez Pena, 38, of Potter Valley.
?We believe he is enroute to Mexico,? Duke said. ?We believe he acted alone.?
Alvarez and Alvarez Pena knew each other and may be distantly related, he said.
Alvarez was shot to death at about 4 p.m. in a vehicle bay of a warehouse surrounded by vineyards. A witness identified Alvarez Pena as the suspect, Duke said, and a handgun thought to be the murder weapon was found at the scene.
A search of Alvarez Pena?s residence determined that he has family in Mexico and would ?most likely flee south,? Duke said.
No further information on Alvarez was available Saturday.
Deputies and Cloverdale Police officers searching the building where Alvarez was killed discovered dozens of pounds of marijuana ready for street sale, he said.
However, investigators who did not identify the property owner, said they do no believe he was directly involved with either the marijuana operation or the killing.
No arrests have been made in connection with the marijuana but, Duke said, ?That?s going to remain open for us.?
Alvarez Pena is believed to be driving a 2001 Nissan Frontier crew cab pickup qith the license plate 6R27049. The vehicle is black with orange fender flares and a 4-inch yellow stripe on the driver and passenger doors, Duke said.
He said law enforcement agencies throughout the western states and at border crossings have been alerted.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: